Open Menu Close Menu Open Search Close Search

Home / Past Initiatives / COV-AID (2020-2021)

Communities Of Virtual Alliance & Inter-Dependence (COV-AID)

The Open Society University Network – Talloires Network Educational Partnership is aimed at supporting engaged universities that are responding quickly and positively to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The goals of Communities Of Virtual Alliance & Inter-Dependence (or COV-AID) are to collect and share stories of institutions and individuals who are taking action to mitigate the crisis, document practical steps and strategies that may be of use elsewhere, provide uplifting content, and strengthen public support for engaged universities.

COV-AID consists of several parts: a webinar series entitled “Adapting to the New Reality: Civically Engaged Universities Offer Strategies and Hope;” interviews with leaders in the global university civic engagement movement, The Eleanor Roosevelt Conferences, Graduate Student Mini-Grants, and a Student Engagement Award. Learn more about the Student Engagement Award and read the full press release announcing the partnership.

 

Webinar Series:  Adapting to the New Reality: Civically Engaged Universities Offer Strategies and Hope

Episode 1: Civically Engaged Universities and the Pandemic – Vision and Navigation, April 13, 2020 (9:30-10:30 EDT) 

  • Jonathan Becker, OSUN Vice Chancellor
  • Leon Botstein, Bard College President
  • Sara Ladrón de Guevara, Universidad Veracruzana Rectora and TN Vice Chair
  • Anthony P. Monaco, Tufts University President and TN Chair
  • Lorlene Hoyt, Talloires Network Executive Director (moderator)

 

Episode 2: Civically Engaged Universities and the Pandemic – Strategies that Work, May 11, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Felicia Keesing, David and Rosalie Rose Distinguised Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Computing, Bard College (United States)
  • Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Director, Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy, Central European University (Hungary)
  • Fatima Jehangir, Assistant Professor, Ziauddin University (Pakistan)
  • Carol Ma, Associate Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences (Singapore)
  • Khoo Suan Phaik, Dean for IMU Community Engagement, International Medical University (Malaysia)
  • Erin Cannan, Dean of Civic Engagement, Bard College  (moderator)

Episode 3: Civically Engaged Universities and the Pandemic – Issues of Displacement and Economics, June 8, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Rebecca Granato, Associate Vice President for Global Initiatives, Al Quds Bard (Palestine)
  • Miklos Koren, Professor of Economics, Central European University (Hungary)
  • Maire Leane, Senior Lecturer and Vera Stojanovic, student leader, University College Cork (Ireland)
  • Agata Lisiak, Professor, Bard College Berlin (Germany)
  • Nieves Segovia, President, SEK Education Group (Spain)
  • Lorlene Hoyt, Talloires Network (moderator)

Episode 4: Civically Engaged Universities and the Pandemic – Issues of Engaged Teaching, Learning, and Mentorship, July 13, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Elvis Akomoneh, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Meridian Global University (Cameroon)
  • Kwame Holmes, Faculty Advisor, Bard Prison Initiative and Scholar-in-Residence, Human Rights Program, Bard College (United States)
  • Claudia Lucia Mora Motta, FORJA Director, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia)
  • Angela Owusu-Ansah, Provost, Ashesi University (Ghana)
  • Cammie Jones, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement, Bard College (moderator)

Episode 5: Civically Engaged Universities and Pandemic – Student Stories of Hope, August 10, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Catherine Kasungia Mumo, Strathmore University (Kenya)
  • Zamima Islam Sabaa, BRAC University (Bangladesh)
  • Thaís Mazzo da Costa, University of Campinas (Brazil)
  • Vera Stojanovic, University College Cork (Ireland)
  • Mohak Thukral, OP Jindal Global University (India)

Episode 6: Civically Engaged Universities and Pandemic – Reflections on Action, September 14, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Daniela Aldazaba González, Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico)
  • Keyvious Avery, Bard College (United States)
  • Doreen Agyiriwaa Marfo, Ashesi University (Ghana)
  • Phionah Namuwenge, LivingStone International University (Uganda)
  • Thuong T. Hoai Nguyen, Fulbright University Vietnam (Vietnam)

Episode 7: Adapting to the New Reality – Civically Engaged Universities in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples, October 26, 2020 (9:00-10:00 EDT)

  • Patricio Belloy, Centro de Emprendizaje at Universidad Austral de Chile (Chile)
  • Uncle Ray Woods, Wiradjuri Council of Elders (Australia)
  • Sue Green, Charles Sturt University (Australia)
  • Maura Sullivan, Chumash Language Activist, PhD Student in Linguistics, Tulane University (United States)
  • Nada Greku, CEU Roma Students Organizer, PhD Student, Central European University (Hungary)

Episode 8: Adapting to the New Reality – Civic Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship, November 9, 2020 

  • Tanya Rukuwah, PaNhari Digital Platforms Manager, University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
  • Filliam Efiti, Dean, School of Media and Technology, LivingStone International University (Uganda)
  • Gideon Maas, Executive Director, International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship, Coventry University (England)
  • Alejandro Crawford, CEO of RebelBase and Faculty, Social Entrepreneurship, Bard College (United States)
  • Dalia Najjar, Farouk Systems Palestine and Lecturer, Al-Quds University (Palestine)

Episode 9: Adapting to the New Reality – Civically Engaged Universities and Long-term Partnerships, December 14, 2020

  • Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, President, Effat University (Saudia Arabia)
  • Penn Loh, Senior Lecturer, Tufts University (United States)
  • Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility, The University of Manchester (England)

Episode 10: Adapting to the New Reality – The Public Purpose of Universities in a Post-Covid19 World, January 18, 2021

  • Mapendo Mindje, Graduate Student, University of Rwanda (Rwanda)
  • Verity Firth, Executive Director, Social Justice, University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
  • Leslie Van Rooi, Senior Director, Social Impact and Transformation, Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
  • Joanne Curry, Vice President, External Relations, Simon Fraser University (Canada)
  • Mathew Johnson, President, Albion College (moderator)

Episode 11: Adapting to the New Reality – Civic Universities Engaging in The Arts, February 8, 2021

  • Adnan Z Morshed, Professor, Catholic University of America (US) and BRAC University (Bangladesh)
  • Judith Mossman, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Coventry University (United Kingdom)
  • Kseniya Shtalenkova, Lecturer, European Humanities University (Lithuania)
  • Tania El Khoury,  Distinguished Artist in Residence in Theater & Performance and the Director of the OSUN Center for Human Rights & the Arts at Bard College (United States)

Episode 12: Adapting to the New Reality – Scholarship in Action: Graduate Students Respond to the Crisis, March 8, 2021

  • Andy Saunders, Rutgers University- New Brunswick (United States)
  • Adnan Schubert, Central European University (Hungary)
  • Decent Mutanho, Witwatersrand University (South Africa)
  • Rose Macharia, Mount Kenya University (Kenya)
  • Freddy Yanez Cerda, Universidad Austral de Chile (Chile)
  • Sol Rodriguez, University of British Columbia (Canada)